Poll Shows Early Voter Support for Schwarzenegger Agenda

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A day after showing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s job-approval rating had slipped, the Field Poll reported Thursday that his proposal to phase out the $300 billion state workers’ pensions system in favor of individual retirement accounts is supported by half of voters.


The Republican governor’s controversial plan to place all new state and local government workers in private retirement accounts based on how much they contribute, rather than traditional pensions based on pay and years of work, is backed by 51 percent of voters and opposed by 38 percent, according to a poll by the Field Research Corp. A separate poll taken one month ago by the Public Policy Institute of California showed the measure had the support of 64 percent of voters.


A bitter partisan confrontation over the plan is expected with California’s Democrat-controlled legislature.


Schwarzenegger has threatened to put his priorities out to voters as ballot measures if Democrats balk at the changes a move registered voters narrowly support until told of the estimated $50 million to $70 million cost for a special election, according to the Field Poll.


Support for the special election falls to 30 percent from 51 percent when the anticipated cost is mentioned.


The poll was based on interviews with 800 registered voters between Feb. 8 and Feb. 17. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 points.


The Field Poll reported on Wednesday that 55 percent of registered voters approve of Schwarzenegger’s job performance and 35 percent disapprove. In September, 65 percent of voters said they approved of how Schwarzenegger oversaw the state government, while 22 percent said they disapproved.

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